Worcester Sport
Prized asset Mullan signs new Warriors deal
4:54pm Thursday 9th February 2012
WORCESTER Warriors have pulled off a major coup by convincing in-demand England Saxons prop Matt Mullan to sign a new contract at Sixways.
Pretty much every club in the Aviva Premiership has approached the 24-year-old loosehead since he entered the final six months of his Warriors contract on January 1.
However, head coach Richard Hill has been able to persuade the talented homegrown front-rower that he can achieve his lofty ambitions at Sixways.
Mullan is believed to have signed a one-year extension, but the fact Worcester have managed to keep hold of their most prized asset could well be a watershed moment for the club.
Holding onto Mullan is a real statement of intent for Warriors, who have traditionally been seen as a club that has its top talent - such as the likes of Tom Wood and Graham Kitchener - poached by the division’s top sides.
“I am very pleased to have my future sorted and can now look forward to the rest of this season and beyond at Warriors,” said Mullan.
“I have come through the academy system at Sixways and have been involved in the senior set-up for seven seasons now, so I desperately want to achieve the potential that I truly believe exists at Sixways.
“We have made a very strong start to 2012 and I am excited by the plans and the coming year under the leadership of Richard and his coaching team.”
Hill hailed the news as a sign of the real ambition shared by both the player and club for the future of Worcester Warriors.
He said: “It is a major signing for Warriors and we are delighted that Matt has agreed to remain with us. This signature shows that we can keep the very best players that have come through our set-up and I truly believe this is a very significant moment for the club.
“We want our best young players to stay with us and have faith in the future and the plans we have to this club forward. This is a big statement for the Warriors and where we are going.
“Matt has been consistently outstanding and in every single game he produces top-quality performances. He has huge respect within the squad and is absolutely 100 per cent professional in everything he does as he strives to develop and push himself.
“I have enjoyed working with him hugely and he has every attribute that you would want in a professional rugby player. Everybody connected with the Warriors is pleased that he has decided to commit himself to the club.”
Mullan, currently part of the England Saxons EPS and who has featured in Six Nations action for England in the past, has made 85 appearances for Warriors since bursting onto the scene from the club’s thriving academy to make his Premiership debut against London Irish in December 2007.
He was first called up to the Saxons squad in 2009 and then replaced the injured Andrew Sheridan in the senior squad for the 2010 Six Nations.
Mullan made his senior England international debut as a replacement for Tim Payne against Italy in Rome on February 14, 2010.